SHOWCASE Part of his Soul 22 PARRY Sound Sideroads & Shorelines
As a boy, Rob Brown spent summers exploring the rock cuts, bays and pine forests of Franklin Island in Georgian Bay. At the time, he never knew that he would one day own the nearby Isle of Pines. Story by Kim Goggins Photography Dave Opavsky I love it up there. It s part of my heart and soul part of my soul, for sure. Rob Brown s voice grows contemplative as he speaks about Georgian Bay and what it has meant to him since his childhood. A commercial developer in Toronto, now, he spent every summer of his youth at his grandparents cabin in Sand Bay, endlessly exploring every nook and cranny that Franklin Island and Isle of Pines offered. I used to go fishing in the bay behind (Isle of Pines) and I walked this island with my cousin when I was 14, 15 years old, he recalls. I had no expectations at all that I would someday own it. And you know, the cottage we have on the mainland is 800 square feet in total and I would have been happy being there because when you re up on that part of Georgian Bay it s all about being outside. Brown s mainland cottage, built by his grandfather in the 40s has been a treasured tradition in the Brown family with his own father constantly driving up from Hamilton as a young man a full-day drive at the time and Brown spending every summer there with his sister and brother. The sauna cabin is just steps away from the shoreline and main cottage. JANUARY 2018 23
In 2004, he and his sister purchased the 12-acre Isle of Pines, which held nine buildings on it from its days as a fishing camp. In the 1950s, it was also known for its popular dance hall that once extended over the water (on his sister s side of the island). With the help of Dave Austin s team at Austin Construction and architect Bill Dewson, the Browns dream cottage, sauna building, and bunkie were built in less than a year. Dave is so well set up to build on the bay, he made the process easy, says Brown. It takes someone who is incredibly experienced because every tool, nail and screw has to be boated there. There is no way a land-based contractor could have handled this job so efficiently. For the last 12 summers, as the sun s rays cast intense pink or orange tones through the sky and upon the water, Brown and his family have had a front row seat each evening from their cottage s comfortable couch and chairs in the living room as well as ample front deck. Enveloped by nine sliding glass doors that line the front of the cottage and wrap around at the living room and dining areas, the cottage offers panoramic views of Georgian Bay from this main space that also features an open-concept kitchen and substantial stone fireplace. We always liked the idea of a screenedin porch but sometimes when screened-in porches are built they re only used in nice weather and the rest of the year they sort of cast shade or darkness into the main room, explains Brown. So, we felt if we could make our main room a dual purpose room, we could open it up and make it a screened-in porch during the summer and we can close it up in the fall and turn it into a cottage. It s got that dual purpose. Overhead, four hip trusses join together at a substantial Douglas fir kingpost and thick timber beams around the perimeter of the room support the roof. While this is a feat of engineering to ensure posts aren t needed within the open-concept room, the exposed timber on the ceiling, along with fir walls and rustic pine floors also give a warm, bucolic feel despite a more contemporary look on the exterior of the building that features a low-pitched and dark standing- Dave is so well set up to build on the bay, he made the process easy. It takes someone who is incredibly experienced because every tool, nail and screw has to be boated there. 24 Parry Sound Sideroads & Shorelines
The best seat in the house for sunsets. Rob Brown once explored Isle of Pines as a youth and has owned the island with his sister since 2004. The views of surrounding islands and Georgian Bay are magnificent from every direction. JANUARY 2018 25
The large kitchen is part of the open-concept design of the cottage. Four hip trusses join together at a substantial Douglas fir kingpost and thick timber beams around the perimeter of the room support the roof. 26 PARRY Sound Sideroads & Shorelines
seam roof, extended rafter tails, walls of windows, and dark trim against cedar siding. To further warm the interior, a substantial fieldstone fireplace with large firebox features granite that is indigenous to the island and Parry Sound area, including a four-foot-long granite mantel that brown helped the stone mason find on the island. Beside the fireplace, a cosy corner of windows offers comfortable seating with baskets below. The window seating is all Dave s handiwork, notes Brown. He does incredible mill work. He is so skilled. All of the people that we had working on the project were incredibly talented. It s amazing that in Parry Sound and Nobel you ve got all these incredibly talented people and in Toronto I can t find anyone of that calibre. They re all up there. Nearby, a custom-made table with spherical top and reclaimed wooden pedestal is where many board and card Custom Building Building Maintenance Property Maintenance Serving Georgian Bay, Parry Sound & Muskoka For Over 40 Years The centre kingpost is structural engineering at its best but also offers a cool look. 705.746.3687 www.daveaustinconstruction.ca JANUARY 2018 27
28 Parry Sound Sideroads & Shorelines game challenges have taken place. With no TV, that s our evening entertainment, chuckles Brown. We re into euchre right now as a family. There are a lot of cards, a lot of board games played there. The open-concept kitchen offers a pop of colour against the warm tones of the wood with white Shaker-style cabinetry, featuring four glass-front cabinets, and a large fireengine-red island boasting a four-foot-byeight-foot reclaimed wooden countertop. Above the island, three industrial-style pendant lights with bare bulbs within glass shades give a modern vibe equal to the stainless appliances. Steps away, a custom-made harvest table with the same reclaimed wood as the island is able to accommodate large groups when entertaining family and friends. This large, open-concept space is only a hallway away from the cottage s four bedrooms, laundry room and two and half bathrooms. From the main double glass door of the cottage beside the dining space, 12-by-24-inch natural slate tile runs to the back entrance of the cabin, adjacent to the kitchen. This slate foyer is highlighted by a 10-foot long bench and custom cabinetry to hold shoes and coats. An archway from the foyer leads into the Great Room on the left while a pine-floor hallway on the right houses the bedrooms, laundry and bathrooms. The idea with the slate floor was to carry the theme of the rock into the cottage, explains Brown. At the very end of the hallway, the master retreat offers soothing tones with Douglas fir walls and vaulted ceiling, as well as views of the lake through a triple-panel window that takes up one wall and double glass doors with floor-to-ceiling windows on either side that lead to the deck. A rake head window over the patio allows a view of the stars when lying in bed. The master ensuite features a herringbone slate floor with the same natural slate in the standalone shower and a classic pine vanity. But this isn t the shower used most by Brown and his family. Austin created an outdoor shower surrounded by cedar partitions, not far from the master bedroom, and this is where they prefer to bathe.
Table made of same reclaimed wood as kitchen island. Builder Dave Austin handcrafted the window seats in this cosy corner by the fieldstone fireplace. All of the people that we had working on the project were incredibly talented. It s amazing that in Parry Sound and Nobel you ve got all these incredibly talented people. This is where the family indulges in reading or just staring out at the view. Wall-to-wall sliding doors makes it feel like a screened-in room when all are open in the summer months. JANUARY 2018 29
The hallway of bedrooms is situated across the slate tiled foyer from the open-concept living space. There are two bedrooms with custom-made bunkbeds and a single bed. The pine walls are white washed to prevent yellowing. The slate tile in this ensuite washroom gives an earthy feel and draws in the stone from the outside. Extensive windows in the master suite offer expansive views of the bay. The rake head window atop the glass door allows for further views, above. 30 PARRY Sound Sideroads & Shorelines
The great thing about the island is it s a natural place and we wanted to build a cottage that fit into the environment. It s spectacular. It s awesome. We never use the showers indoors I don t even know why we built them, laughs Brown. Maybe my wife will use the inside shower on Thanksgiving weekend but I don t even do that. I love the outdoor shower. One of his greatest strengths was how much he cared about the project and the quality of work, Brown continues. He made sure we got full value for our money. Austin also handcrafted heavy pine bunkbeds in two of the other bedrooms, which also each feature a single bed to accommodate the kids friends and other family members. A queen-size bedroom with the same white-washed pine walls as the other two bedrooms, as well as views of the lake through a sliding glass door can also accommodate the kids or overnight guests. These bedrooms share a full bathroom with shower, as well as a half bath close to the main foyer. For total privacy, the island s bunkie offers a bed, sitting area and washroom and is only steps from another building close to the water that features a cedar sauna and games room. These two exterior buildings are woven together by an intricate decking system that feathers into the rock formations so they look like natural walkways and link the buildings to the main cottage and ultimately to the dock. The great thing about the island is it s a natural place and we wanted to build a cottage that fit into the environment. So, from the water it wasn t obtrusive and it blended in, yet, when we were in it we could see everything outside and really feel like it was worthwhile making the journey north, says Brown. Mission accomplished. JANUARY 2018 31